Germany has one the biggest tourism markets in Europe. Both domestic trips and outbound trips recorded moderate growth in 2014. This increase was partly driven by a consistent positive economic state and gradually decreasing unemployment rates. Inbound trips grew at an average annual rate of 6.3% during 2009-2014, driven by the German National Tourist Board’s (GNTB) promotional efforts and its strong position in Europe for cultural attractions and mice tourism.
– Inbound trips and expenditure recorded strong growth during the historic period (2009-2014), with trips totaling 32.9 million in 2014 and expenditure valuing EUR43.8 billion (US$59 billion). However, arrivals declined by -6% in 2013 and hardly registered any growth in 2014. The EU and the US imposed sanctions as a result of the Ukrainian crisis, which slowed Germany’s economic growth. In addition, trips from Russia, another key source market for Germany, declined in 2014 and this trend is expected to continue in 2015. Inbound tourist volume is forecast to reach 42.6 million by 2019 while expenditure is projected at EUR60.6 billion (US$85.5 billion). With an improved economic state, domestic trips grew by 2.4% in 2014 and totaled 198.6 million. Germany retained its rank as the largest outbound market in Europe in 2014, in terms of trips and expenditure. Outbound trips stood at 90.3 million in 2014, up by 3.2% over the last year, and are projected to grow at an average annual growth of 2.3% up to 2019
– Arrivals from the Netherlands, the largest source market for Germany, have been adversely affected in recent years due to the weak state of the Dutch economy. Arrivals declined by -6% in 2013 and hardly registered any growth in 2014. The Dutch economy contracted by -1.6% in 2012 and -0.7% in 2013, and recorded nominal positive growth of 0.9% in 2014
– In the wake of a growing number of Germans traveling to Turkey, supported by promotions by The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the large number of Turkish people living in Germany going to their home country to visit friends and relatives, Turkish Airlines has opened new routes in recent years. It launched new routes from Istanbul to Cologne and Baden-Baden in June 2015, and Istanbul to Stuttgart in April 2015. Departures to Turkey grew at a CAGR of 8.6% during the historic period
